maple



April 27 1926.

H. MAPLE THERMALLY OPBRABLE SELF SOLDERING CIRCUIT BREAKER Original Filed April 1918' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 7 Ear banana.

By Mn! ATTORNEYS.

April 27 ,-1926. Re. 16,336

R. H. MAPLE THERIALLY OPERABLE SELF SOLDERING CIRCUIT BREAKER Original Filed April 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HE]. E 7

- lll{lllll lllll INVENTOR. K0) /2( MAPLE.

f zwh/zzfawx A TTORNEYS.

lieissued Apr. 27, i926. UNITED STATES BOY H. mLE, or

v R e. 16,336 PATENT OFFICE.

INDIANAPOLIS INDIANA, ASSIGNOB TO 3.11:. min 60., or INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A CQBPOBATION.

THEBMALLY-OPERAIBLE SELF-SOLDEBING CIRCUIT BREAKER.

Original application filed April 26, 1918, Serial No.

230,882. Renewed Octdber 24, 1923. on maINoQ 1,478,481, dated December 25,- 1923. Application for reissue filed December 21, 1925. Serial No.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, ROY H. MAPLE, a citizen of the'United States, and a resident of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Thermally-Operable Self-Soldering Circuit Breakeryand I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact. descriptionv thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts. I

This invention relates to self soldering circuit breakers of the fusible type and one feature of the invention is the provision in connection with a self soldering circuit breaker including contact blades and a latch, of a lockingpinion and contact pinion support held normall in fixed relation with each other by fusi le material.

One of the main features of the invention consists in the provision of a substantially U-shaped thermal element anchored at opposite sides adjacent the ends or at the ends and through which current passes longitudinally, the inid-portion of said U-shaped thermal element being: arranged to retain the circuit breaker parts in closed circuit position but automatically releasing said. circuit breaker parts an peimitting the same to move into 0 n circuit relation upon the passage of an a normal oran over-load current through said U-shaped thermal element, the. retaining or catch mechanism being associated with the'mid-portion of. said U-sha ed thermal element. g

A urther feature of the invention is in so constructin the locking pinion and the latch cooperating with said locking pinion that when released by an overload, the rotation of the lockingpinien will be lim t ited by the latch 'to'bring the same in position for reengagement with the latch when the arts of the circuit breaker are returned to cibsed position.

A further feature of the invention is the manner of attaching the fuse controlled.

parts of the circuit breaker whereby said parts may be quickly attached to or removed from the circuit breaker without disconnecting or removing any parts of the circuit breaker.

A further feature of the invention is the provision, iniconnection with the locking ual tive locking effect with the fusing material when in'normal condition and without interfering or affecting the rotating movement of the inion when the fusing material is softene v A further feature of the invention is the provision of means for manually operating the circuit making and breaking mechanism.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means for fusing the material for holding the pinion and its support in fixed relation from currents of different values, f

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a push rod for carrying the locking pinion and its support and provid: ing means thereon for positively moving the contact pinion support out of engagement with the contact blades.

- A further feature of the invention is to provide an insulating block on the push rod and so mount the lockin pinion and its support thereon that sai support will be held against lateral or twistin and the pinion held against longitudinal movement. .A further feature of the invention is in so constructing the contact ends of the blades and theparts'of the insulating I block and 'pinionsupport that they will accelerate the disengagement of the contact pinion support from'the contact blades.

A further feature of the invention is the provision ofv an insulated supporting base for the parts of the circuit breaker and so constructing the same that. the push rodand latch ma be readily attached thereto or removed t erefrom while in assembled position.

A further so mountingbthe latch upon the push rod and supIport-ing ase that said latch may be many raised and released; from the locking pinion without causing the latch to' bend to ave yielding movement in any part thereof.

The full-nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawfeature of the lnvention is in movement ings and. the following description and claims: l v v In the drawings Fig. 1, is a bottom plan view ofthe circuit'breaker' in closed position. Fig, 2 is a sectional view'thereof as v seen on line 22.of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view as seen on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, with the circuit breaker in open position, Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of the forwardportion of the push rod and interlocking parts in unlocked position, the casing therefor being shown in section. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the contact pinion support. Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section through the locking pinion. Fig. 7 is an enlarged end elevation of the locking inion showing the contact supporting mem er in section. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the lower end of one of the contact blades. 9 is an edge elevation thereof. Fig. 10 is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit breaker, showing the manner of connecting the same to the battery,-ignit ion system and generator.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate correspending parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates an enclosing frame, to the forward end of which is attached a cover plate 2, and to the rear end of which is attached, in any suitable manner, a supporting base 3, said base being preferably constructed of insulating material. Extending through the frame 1 1s a push rod 4, the forward end of which is provided with a button 5 which projects through an opening in the cover plate 2, while the opposite end of the rod projects through an opening 6 in the sup porting base 3, said rod having an insulating block 7 surrounding the same, and preferably resting against the inner end of the push button 5. 7 is provided at each side with a vertical .seat or groove 8 and across its top is a transverse seat or ove 9, the vertical grooves being designe to receive the contact ends 10 of the bent or substantially U-shaped pinion support 11, the horizontal bar 12 of the pinion support having a locking pinion 13 mounted thereon, which enters a recess 14 in the upper face of the block 7.

The locking pinion 13 is normally held in fixed relation with the horizontal bar 12 of the pinion support. by placing a thin layer of fusible material around the horizontal bar over which the locking pinion is placed and in order to give a positive looking action between the bar 12 and interior of the pinion 13, the inner wall of the opening 15 through the pinion is provided with corrugations 16 (see Fig. 7) while the surface of the horizontal bar 12 over which the pinion fits is provided with corrugations 17, and as the fusible material necessarily enters the depressions between the corrugations it will more firmly lock the pinion to the support. As it is necessary for the pin- 1011 13 to rotate at times, and as it requires a close fit between the-horizontal bar 12 and The block the interior of the locking pinion, the corrugations 16 are extended in a straight line from end to end of the pinion, while the corrugations 17 (see Fig. 5) of the bar 12 are spirally arranged so that while the fusible material will have positive interlocking action, yet the corrugations 16.will ride over the corrugations 17 when the locking pinion PJIIlOI]. support, said contact ends having flattened faces 22 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3) so as to provide a perfectcontact with the fingers. The rear portion of the vertical faces of the block 7 are. also tapered inwardly as shown at 23 so that the block can readily pass between the fingers 21 and by inclining the fingers and the contact portions of the ends 10 as shown, the spring action of said fingers will tend to force the push rod 4 forwardly to break the circuit between the contact ends 10 and the fingers 21.

As best shown in Figs, 1 and 3 layers of carbon 24 may be introduced between the contact ends 10 and the block 7, said blocks having anoutwardly extending beveled face upon which the fingers 21 make the final break, thus obviating any possibility of an are forming when the circuit breaker is opened or closed. The inclined ends of the contact blades '18-are entered through slots 25 in the sup ortln base 3, and in order to securely ho d the lades in fixed relation with the block the ends 26 of the blades passing through said slots are'crim ed in such manner that they will be slightly owed (see Fig. 10), causing the central )ortion or rib 27 to bind against one face 0 the slots while the edges of the ends onthe opposite sides press against the opposite walls of the slots, thereby securely binding the-contact blades within the slots.

In order to prevent the blades from being casually removed from the slots, a portion of the ends 26 are struck out to form a projection 28 which passes through the slots and beyond the rear face of the supporting base, While the movement of the blades is, stopped by slitting the side edges of the blades and bending the upper portion of the slitted parts forwardly to form shoulders 29, which rest against the opposite face of the supporting base from the projection 28.

- rod tomove forwardly, the shoul positionin 3 After the contact blades are properly attached to the supporting base, clamps 30 are attached to the' ends projecting rearwardly of the base by means of binding screws 31, which screws also attach the wires 32 to the contact blades.

The push rod 4 is held in itsinward position so that the contact blades 18 will engage the contact ends 10 of the pinion support through the medium of the latch- 33, the inner end 34 of which is bent at right angles and extended over the push rod 4, said latch also having an angularly shaped bent portion 35 which cooperates with the shoulder 36 on the supporting base 3, said shoulder limiting the upward movement of the rear end of the latch. The end 34 of the latch isentered through the opening 6 and is of sufiicient length to overlap the rear face of the supporting base 3, and this prevents for; ward movement of the latch while the shoulder prevents rearward movement of 'the latch. A shoulder 37 is formed on the latch adjacent its forward end which shoulder normally rests in the path of one of the teeth 38 of the pinion 13, and when the shoulder is engaged with said tooth, which always projects verticall y of the push rod, said push rod will be held in en agement with the fin gers 21 of the contact lades, until such time as the latch is manually disengaged from .the pinion, or until the fusible material is softened by the excess amperage so as to permit the pinion to rotate upon the pinion support, and in either event the push rod and arts carried thereby are thrown forwardly by the tension ofthe spring 39 surrounding the push rod between the end 34 ofthelatch and the block 7 on the push rod. In case that the fusible material is brought to a softened state by excess current so as to break the circuitby permittin the push c ler 37 will cause the pinion to rotate and as the next succeeding tooth will engage the lower face of the latch, said next succeedingtooth 'will be'gnoved to vertical position as shown in Fig. 4 and as the latch is then iesting on two of the teeth, the pinion will be held against further rotation, thereby positively the pinion for reen agement with the s oulder of the latch so tat when the fusible material again hardens and the ush rod is moved inwardly, the shoulder of the latch will engage the vertically ex- ,tending tooth and hold the circuit breaker in closed position until such time as the fusible material is again softened, or the latch manually disengaged from the pinion.

As it would be a difiicult matter to attach the push rod to the latch'after the latch is positioned in the supporting base, it is prefera-ble: to first assemble these two partsby introducing the end of the push rod through the opening in the end 34 of the latch and thenengaging the shoulder of the latch with the locking inion and when so assembled the forward on s of the latch and push rod are turned downwardly at an angle to the supporting base. 3, the opening 6 having a flared or inclined lower end 40 to permit of such movement of the latch and push rod. After the end 34' of the latch has been introduced through the opening 6, said latch and push 'the end of the frame 1, the ends of the push rod and latch projecting through the openmgs 41 and 42 respectively in said cover plate. As it is sometimes necessary to manua-lfly operate the circuit breaker, a head 43 0 an tache to the outer end of the latch so that it can be grasped by the hand without causing ashock.

In order to connect the ignition current to suitable insulating material is at the electric circuit, a contact plate-44 is attached to the base 3 by means of a. bolt 45, said bolt being attached to the latch 33 by means of a resistance member or coil 46. The object in providing the resistance coil is to sufficiently heat the locking pinion as to soften the fusible material from a low amperage, the ignition system carrying approximately 5 amperes, while the generator carries approximately 30 amperes, the resistance coil serving to create the, same amount of heat as is created through the contact blades and'contact ends of the pinion support.

In operation, the push rod being moved inwardly until the locking pinion is engaged with the shoulder of the latch, should an overload occur, either through the contact blades or-through the resistance coil 46, the pinion 13 will become sufliciently heated as to soften the fusible material between the locking pinion and pinion support, whereupon the pressure of. the spring 39 will force the push rod and parts carried thereby forwardly, thus disconnecting the contact blades 18 from the contact ends 10. of the 1 pinion support and thus breaking the circuitbetween the battery and other parts. As the push rod moves forwardly, the shoulder on the latch will cause the locking pinion to rotate, thereby bringing the next to manually disengage the latch from the locking pinion.

By arranging the fuse mechanism in this manner, many operations of the circuit breakin mechanism may be obtained, as the fusible material will last indefinitely under ordinary conditionsand will reset or harden practically instantaneously after it has been fused and the circuit broken.

Should an intense overload occur, such as would destroy the fusible material, or should the circuit be broken a suificient number of times through overloads as to consume or destroy all of the fusible material, a new pinion support and pinion can be quickly introduced in the place of the one worn out or destroyed, as it is but necessary to raise the latch or move the same from over the locking pinion so that the U-shaped pinion support may be removed and a new one introduced in its place.

It will further be seen that in addition to the continued resetting of the locking pinion, the operation thereof will be as effective and as rapid as when the ordinary fuse plug is used, with the added advantage that it is not necessary to provide a new fuse with this device, each time an overload occurs, and the circuit breaker is operated as is necessary with the ordinary form of fuse.

It will likewise be seen that by arranging the corrugations or ribs of one part in a straight line and arranging the corrugations or ribs of the other part substantially spirally or in non-parallel relation, there is no opportunity, for said roughened or projecting surfaces interlocking with each other although a close fit is maintained, as a part of the straight corrugations will always rest across parts of the spirally arranged corrugations.

It will further be seen that by arranging the corrugations in this manner particles of the fusible material will enter between the corrugations and thereby reinforce the fusible material and more securely inter lock the pinion with its support In addition to the advantages previously enumerated a further advantage is the manner of so arranging the parts that the same locking pinion can be employed in connection with two different currents of appreciably different values, either of which,

an overload will soften the when receivin fusible material and release the circuit breaker. I

, which the locking nsulating means The invention claimed is:

1. A self-soldering circuit breaker, in-

eluding a locking pinion, a support formed of one strip of metal and having angularly extending ends to which said pinion is soldered, and means in which said angular ends of the pinion support are removably supported for assing an electric current longitudinally t rough said support.

2. A self-soldering circuit breaker, in-. cluding a locking pinion, a support formed of one strip of metal substantially U-shaped,

on the middle portion of which the pinion is soldered, means for removably mounting said support, and means for passing an electric current longitudinally through said support.

3. A self-soldering circuitbreaker including a locking pinion, a support having two angularly disposed ends with the locking pinion soldered on the portion intermediate said ends, and means in which said angular ends of the pinion support are mounted so as to be slidably removable.

4. A-self-soldering circuit breaker including a locking pinion, a U-shaped support on the middle portion of which the pinion is soldered, and means in whicli the ends of said support are mounted so as to he slidably removable.

5. In a self soldering circuit breaker, the combination with an insulated mounting means having seats therein, of a locking pinion, and a support for said locking pinion having parts thereon arranged to enter said seats and hold the support against lateral or twisting movement.

6. In a self soldering circuit breaker, the combination of a locking pinion with a cor rugated centralopening, a corrugated support for the pinion, said corrugations being in non-parallel relation and a fusible material on said corrugated surfaces.

7. In a self soldering circuit breaker, the combination of a locking pinion, a supporting member therefor formed of one strip of metal substantially U-shaped and having contact terminals, and insulatingmeans between the contact terminals ing member.

8. In a self-soldering circuit breaker, the combination of a locking pinion, a supporting member therefor formed of one strip of metal having two angularly extending ends forming contacts and a middle portion upon pinion is supported, and

supporting member.

9. In a self soldering circuit breaker, the combination with a locking pinion having an opening, said opening having corrugations, of a support for said pinion, that portion of the support passing through the locking pinion hav'in corrugations thereon, the corrugations of one, part extending in a straight of the support- 1 upon the contacts of the line. and the corrugations of the other part being spirally arranged. Y

10. In a thermal circuit breaker, the combination of a circuit breaker switch means, a'

catch therefor, fusible means for maintaining said catch vin operative position and for releasing said catch upon the passage of a predetermined current through said switch ends adapted to enter said grooves for holding said pinion and support against lateral or twisting movement.

12. In a self soldering circuit breaker, the combination with a locking pinion having teeth thereon, a support for said pinion, and fusible material between said pin on and its support adapted to be fused when an overload occurs, of means adapted to engage one of said teeth and lock the circuit making and breaking mechanism in closed position under normal conditions, said locking means causing the pinion to rotate when the 'material is fused and the circuit making and breaking mechanism opened, and positioning the next tooth for engagement with the lock ing mechanism and holding the pinion so positioned untilthe fusible material is reset.

13. In a self soldering circuit breaker, the combination with a locking pinion having teeth thereon, a support therefor, and fusiblc material between the pinion and its support for normally holding the pinion in fixed relation with the support, of a latch adapted to engage one of the teeth of said pinion to hold the circuit making and breaking mechanism in closed position'undernormal conditions, said latch causing said pinion to rotate when the fusible material is fused from an overload and the parts carry ing the pinion are moved outwardly, said latch positioning a succeeding tooth for reengagement with the latch and holding the same in fixed position until the fusible ma- 1 ing terial is reset, whereby continued operations of the circuit making and breaking mechanism may be accomplished without renewthe fusing parts.

14. In a self soldering circuit breaker, the

- combination with a locking pinion having support and fusible teeth thereon, a pinion port and the pinion materialbetween the su adapted to be repea of a locking latch ada ted to interlock with one of the teeth of said pinion to hold the circuit making and breaking mechanism. in closed position under normal conditions, said latch being arranged to position the next ly fused and reset,

succeeding tooth for re-engagement with the latch and hold said tooth in its set position until the fusible material is reset.

'15: In a self soldering circuit breaker, the combination with a locking pinion having a plurality of teeth thereon, a pinion support and fusible material for normally holding the locking pinion against rotation upon the support,- of circuit makin and breaking mechanism, a latch adapted to engage one of the teeth of the pinion to hold the circuit making and breaking mechanism in closed position, said latch being adapted to engage two of the teeth when the fusible material is fused, whereby one of the teeth will be positioned for engagement with the latch when the circuit making and breaking mechanism is again closed and held in said position until the fusible material is reset, whereby amultiplicity of fusing actions may result without changing any of the fusing parts.

16. Ina self soldering circuit breaker, the

combination with a locking pinion having a plurality of teeth thereon, and fusible material for normally holding the lockingpinion against rotation, of circuit making and breaking mechanism, a latch adapted to engage one of the teeth of the pinion to hold the circuit making and breaking mechanism in closed position, said latch being adapted to engage two of the teeth when the fusible material is fused, whereby one of the teeth will be positioned for en agement with the latch when the circuit malring and breaking mechanism is again closed and held in said position until the fusiblematerial is reset whereby, a multiplicity of fusing actions may result without changing an of the fusing parts, and means to manually release the latch from the locking pinion.

17. In a self solderingcircuit breaker, a locking pinion, a pinion support, fusible material for normally holding the locking pinion against rotation" upon the support, and means to connect different currents of different values with said locking inion whereby either current will cause the usible material holding the locking pinion to fuse when an overload occurs. Y

18. In a self soldering circuit breaker, the combination with a locking pinion, means to normally hold thepinion against rotation,

opening and overlap the face of the base member to hold the tch against'longitudinal movement, the walls of said opening holding the latch and parts connected therewith against rotation.

19. In a self soldering circuit breaker, the combination with a push rod, a base member having an opening therethrough, and a locking pinion carried by the push rod, of a latch adapted to engage said locking pinion to normally holdthe push rod against outward movement, said latch having an angular extension at one end, adapted to extend through the opening in the base and overlap the face of the base to hold the latch against longitudinal movement, said opening having a flared portion whereby the end of the latch and push rod may be introduced through the opening when in assembled position.

20. A self soldering circuit breaker including a push rod, an insulating block carried thereby, a locking pinion carried thereby and fusibly mounted, and a latch yieldingly mounted on the push rod for engaging said pinion.

21.'A self soldering circuit breaker including a push rod, an insulating block carried thereby, a locking pinion carried by the block and fusibly mounted, a latch for engaging the locking pinion, and a spring for holding the latch in locking position normally and for actuating the push rod when the latch is released.

22. In a' self soldering circuit breaker, the combination with a push rod, a block carried thereby, and a locking pinion carried by the block, of a latch, a base having an/opening through which one end of the latch andthe push rod operates, and a spring holding the latch in looking position so the latch may be manually released from the lockingpinion without bending any part of the latch.

23. In a self soldering circuit breaker, the combination of a locking pinion, a support therefor, and fusible material for normally holding the pinion fixed to its support, of a latch for engagement with said locking pinion, means to connect said latch with a circuit, and a current carrying resistance carried by said latch for causing. the fusing of the fusible material when an overload of current occurs.

I 24. A self soldering circuit breaker, in; cludingcurrent carrying means adapted to be connected to different circuits of different current values, and a single fusing point associated with said current carrying means and adapted to be operated from either of the currents in said means when so connected 25. In a self soldering circuit breaker, the

-combination with a push rod, and an insulating block carried thereby, said insulating block -having grooves therein'and a recess,

of a locking pinion adapted to enter said recess and be held thereby against longitudinal movement, and a substantiallyv U-shaped support for said locking pinion. the extending ends thereof entering said ing said ling said circuit breaker, and manually operated means for releasing said latch.

28. A self soldering circuit breaker including a push rod, an insulating block carried thereby. a locking pinion carried thereby andffusibly mounted, a latch yieldingly mounted on the push rod for engaging said pinion, and insulating means connected with said latch and adaptedto be manually operated for releasing the latch.

29. A self soldering circuit breaker including a push rod, an insulating block carried thereby. a locking pinion carried thereby and fusibly mounted, a latch yieldingly mounted on the push rod for engagpinion, and means for preventing substantially any turning movement in the latch.

30. A self soldering circuit breaker including a push rod, an insulating block carried thereby, a locking pinion carried thereby and fusibly mounted, a latch yield- "ingly mounted on the push rod for engaging said pinion, said latch having a bend in it, and a base having a recess in which said bend operates ,and formed to prevent any turning movement of said latch.

31. A self soldering circuit breaker in-' cluding a push rod, an insulating block carried thereby, a locking pinion carried thereby and fusibly mounted, a latch yieldingly mounted on the push rod for engaging said pinion, a casing with an angular slot in it, an insulating block secured to said latch and extending through the slot in the casing and angular in cross section so that it cannot turn in said slot, and whereby the latch can be gnanually ope-rated.

32. A self soldering circuit'breaker including a locking pinion, a support on which said pinion is soldered, and means for mounting said pinion support and provided with a slot to form projections beside said pinion to prevent longitudinal move-' ment .thereof upon the support when the solder is fused.

ment into a definite position upon said supsolder is fused.

34. A self-actuated circuit breaker including alocking pinion, a support formed of one elongated strip of metal and having an angularly extending end, said pinion being mounted upon said support, means interposed between said support and said pinion for normally securing 'said pinion non-rotatably on said support and fusible by heat to release said pinion for rotation upon said support, and means for passing an electric current longitudinally through said support, said pinion securing means being" fusible by the heat generated in said support when an overload of current is passed through the same. i

35. A circuit breaker including in combination a U-shaped pinion support, a looking pinion rotatably mounted on said support and normally secured thereto in nonrotatable relation. means for securing said U-shaped support, and means for passing an electric current longitudinally through said support, saidlocking pinion being rotatable when an overload of current is passed through said support. 36. In a self soldering circuit breaker the combination of a pinion support, a pinion on said support, fusible means normally securing said pinion to said support, a contact for supplying current to said support, and a latch engagable by said pinion for maintaining said contact in closed circuit position, said pinion being rotatable when an abnormal electric current through said support and fuses said fusible means to release said contact from the closed circuit position, said contact tending to move the pinion support vtoopen said circuit. v

37. A self soldering circuit breaker including in combination a pinion support, a locking pinionrotatable on saidsupport and normally held in non-rotatable relation thereon, means for supplying current to said pinion support so that the same passes longitudinally thereof, said pinion being rotatable on said support when an overload of current is carried thereby, a latch operatively associated with sai pinion, a contact maintained in closed circuit position when said pinion is operatively associated with said latch, and insulating'means amociated with said latch for operating the latter to release said pinion therefrom and permit said contact 'to" open the circuit.

38. A self soldering circuit breaker of the plunger type, including plunger type switch operable circuit breaking means, a fusibly mounted pinion associated with said plunger switch means, a latch in engagement with said pinion for controlling said switch means, manually operable means for closing said switch means, and other manually ops is passed erable means for releasing. the latch for releasing the plungerswitch means.

39. In a thermal circuit breaker, the com-' bination of a circuit breaker switch means, catch therefor, fusible means for maintaining said catch in operative position and for releasing said catch upon the passage of a predetermined current through said switch means, manually operated means for closing said switch means, other manually operated means for opening said switch means and releasing the same from engagement with said catch, and a high resistance contact means associated with said switch means for taking the are when the circuit breaker switch means is open. V v

40. A self soldering circuit breaker of the plunger type, including plunger type switch operable circuit breaking means, afusibly mounted pinion associated with said plunger switch means, a latch in engagement with said pinion for controlling said switch means, manually operable means for closing said switch means, other manually operable means for releasing the latch for releasing the plunger switch means, and a high resistance contact'means associated with said switch means for taking the arc whenthe circuit breaker switch means is open.

41. A self soldering circuit breaker, including a pair of parallel plates, plunger switch means positioned between said plates, a fusibly mounted pinion, a latch in engagement therewith for controlling the plunger switchmeans', manually operable means for releasing said latch to release said switch means, and other manually operable means for actuating said plunger switch "means to close said switch means.

42. In a thermally operable circuit breaker, the combination-of a thermal element having a pairof armslying adjacent each other and a mid-portion connecting the same and relatively free, through said mid-portion of which current passes from arm to arm, and

. matically broken by release of said cooperating means.

45. A device as defined by claim 42, characterized by the cooperating means being independent of the circuit through the thermal element other than the heating thereof, which circuit is automatically and simultaneously broken by release of said cooperat ing means upon the predetermined heating of the thermal element.

46. A device as defined by claim 42, characterized by the cooperating means including a tiltable member manually connected to the thermal element mid-portion-for main taining the circuit breaker in closed circuit position.

47. A device as defined by claim 42, characterized bythe cooperating means including an insulatably and tiltably mounted catch, and a manually operable re-setting member for moving said catch towards the mid-portion of the thermal element and into cooperating engagement, the mid-portion,

of said thermal element upon the passage of an abnormal current therethrou h permitting the release of said catch and the automatic opening ofthe circuit through said thermal element.

48. A- device as defined by claim 42, char acterized by the cooperating means includ ing an insulatably and tiltably mounted catch and a manually operable resetting member for moving said catch toward the mid-portion of the thermal element and into cooperating engagement, said mid-portion upon the passage of an abnormal current therethrough being releasable from said catch for automatically opening the circuitthrough said thermal element.

L 49. In a thermal circuit breaker, the combination of'a thermal elementhavin a pair of arms lying adjacent each other an a midportion connecting the same and relatively free, through said mid-portion of which the current passes from arm to arm,,and a pivotally supported catch member, the mid-portion of said thermal element upon the passage of an abnormal current therethrough' being movable upwardly from a plane including the catch pivot and parallel to the normal position of: the mid-portion and arm portions immediately adjacent thereto for automatically breaking the circuit therethrough remote from saidniid-portion.

50. A device as defined by claim 42, characterized by the cooperating means including a tiltable member mechanically connected to the thermal clement mid-portion for maintaining the circuit breaker in closed circuit position and tiltably mounted upon a base insulated from the circuit to be broken.

51. A device as defined by claim 42, characterized by the cooperating means including an insulat-ably and tilt-ably mounted catch and a manually operable re-sett-ing member for moving said catch towards the 'midportion of the element and into cooperating engagement, the mid-portion of said thermal element upon the passage of an abnormal current therethrough being releasable from said catch for automatically opening the circuit through said thermal element, said tiltably mounted catch being so arranged that it is not a part of the circuit through the thermal element. end which is broken.

52. In a thermal circuit breaker, the combination of a U-shaped thermal element having its ends anchored and its mid-portion relatively free and through the mid-portion of which the current passes from one end to the other, and means positioned adjacent and cooperating with said U-shapedthermal ele I ment mid-portion for maintaining the circuit breaker in closed circuit position and automatically operable to break the circuit upon the passage of an abnormal current through said U-shaped thermal element mid-portion.

' In witness whereof, I have hereunto aflixcd my signature. F

' ROY H. MAPLE. 

